Family : Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes) , subfamily: Cynoglossinae
Order : Pleuronectiformes  (flatfishes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Largescale tonguesole
Fish Name : Cynoglossus arel
Max size : 40.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 11441)
Environment : demersal; amphidromous ; depth range 9 - 125 m
Climate : tropical; 30°N - 5°S
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.24)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf to Sri Lanka and Indonesia, north to southern Japan. Reported occurrence of this species from Niue (Ref. 3804) should be verified.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 116-130; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 85-98; Vertebrae: 50-57. Eyed side uniform brown, with a dark patch on gill cover, blind side white. Body elongate, its depth 20 to 26% SL. Eyes with a small scaly interorbital space. Snout obtusely pointed. Rostral hook short. Corner of mouth reaching posteriorly to or beyond lower of eye, about midway between gill opening and tip of snout. Caudal-fin rays usually 10. Midlateral-line scales 56 to 70. Scales large, ctenoid on eyed side of body. Cycloid (smooth) on blind side. Scale rows between lateral lines on eyed side of body 7 to 9 (Ref 9895).
Biology : Inhabits muddy and sandy bottoms of the continental shelf down to 125 m. Enters estuaries and tidal rivers (Ref. 1479). Feeds predominantly on bottom-living invertebrates. Marketed mostly fresh and frozen; also dried-salted (Ref. 9895)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno and T. Yoshino. 1984. (Ref. 559)

India country information
Common Names : ळीप, Largescale tounge-sole, Lep
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses